a single click. All you need is Adobe Reader.
For use with either a modern browser, or an RSS program.
Modern Warfare 2: Multiplayer Hands-On
We eye up Modern Warfare 2 as the next title in the Call of Duty series heads back to the frontlines.
Written by David Scammell, 16 September 2009
So where do you start when you come to talk about the most anticipated video game release of all time? Well, how about with the facts? Modern Warfare 2 has 42 weapons (both new and old, and now including silenced shotguns), 27 Perks, 108 Accolades, 153 Emblems, 570 Titles and five default character classes; it's the sequel to a game that has sold millions of copies and turned the online gaming world on its head, regularly topping most-played charts even two years after its initial release, and one that has, according to one particular statistic-counter, unashamedly consumed 182 hours of this writer's life.
It's hard not to get too excited, then, especially when you're surrounded by a bunch of equally eager journalists champing at the bit to get their hands on the supposed 'game to end all games.' It's a peculiar sight; a title that is seemingly universally acknowledged as being the game of the year by critics, consumers and publishers alike, without anyone having even played it.
And then we do.
To ease us in, we're thrown into a Team Deathmatch; 8 players on one side, 8 on the other. The game seems familiar - our overall aim is to achieve a score of 7500 within 10 minutes (yes, all points earned now carry an extra zero; 100 for a kill, 20 for an assist etc.) - but the rules have changed. No longer governed by the 3, 5 and 7 killstreak UAV, airstrikes and attack helicopter, we're now given the freedom to allocate whatever bonus we'd like from a predefined list.
P3Zine Issue 34
For our latest Modern Warfare coverage, click here to download P3Zine Issue 34 for free.Customisable killstreaks form a new section of the game's 'Create A Class' section, allowing gamers to choose which benefit they'd like to receive upon reaching certain killcounts. Though the list is said to be fairly extensive in the final game, we've only treated to a handful for our playtest. The UAV returns, this time joined by a Counter-UAV option which replaces the enemy's radar with nothing but static. Airdrops containing a random bonus, such as instant-access to another killstreak or ammo replenishment, are available upon hitting four kills, while at five you'll be given two options; the ability to launch a Predator Missile, and guide it down on to unsuspecting victims below via an AC-130-alike first person camera, or instead plant a static gun turret. At six kills you're treated to a 'Precision Airstrike', while at 7 you'll be able to launch that classic AC-130 Gunship, complete with options to cycle between its onboard weaponry. And yes, that means the Howitzer, too.
The opposite however is also true; die numerous times in a row and you'll be offered the chance to perform a Deathstreak, of which we were shown 'Copycat', an ability that directly lifts your killer's weapons and equipment loadout into your own, as well as an option similar to Modern Warfare's Juggernaut Perk that grants freshly-spawned players increased health for a short amount of time.
Perks have also been given the once over and are now upgradeable upon reaching a certain level, while the lack of any sign of Last Stand or Martydom during our hands-on session hinted at the removal of some altogether. Indeed, questioning an Infinity Ward representative over whether those particular Perks had both been dropped was met with an awkward chuckle and a "Maybe, just maybe" response. Make of that what you will...
But that may well be a good thing, with both Perks in question dividing audiences the first time around. And it's removing this frustration that Infinity Ward are keen on rectifying the second time around, placing a keen eye on balancing and polishing the game more so than ever before. There are examples throughout: shotguns have been relegated to secondary weapons; a wise move given their relatively infrequent use in the original MW, and though airdrops can be hijacked by enemy forces, it'll take longer for them to capture them than it would your own team. If it's your own airdrop, you'll also be able to pick it up much more quickly than that of another team member, all but eliminating the chance of them camping below the drop point in an attempt to sneakily pick it up before you. There are also other opportunities to score points outside of killing enemies or making assists, as well. Shoot down an enemy's AC130 and you'll earn points, as does taking out an enemy sentry gun. It all goes towards making the game more finely tuned than ever before, where risk is met with reward, and with the knowledge that your experience not only unlocks new weapons, but additional options across an entire spectrum.
The maps too, look like delicate, well-crafted designs, with Lead Multiplayer Designer Todd Alderman promising the inclusion of "lots and lots" in the final game. Three were shown in our 'Beta 7.0' build; 'Favela' will be the most recognizable, shown most recently in the Flag Runner multiplayer video and set within the streets Rio De Janiero. 'Highrise' offers a sense of variety, with the opposing ends of the map set in tight, busy office blocks, and the centre hosting a large helipad perfect for conflict. But of the maps on offer, 'Afghan' is arguably the one we found most interesting. Set within a mountain range, the map's outside 'ring' consists of a series of tunnels, pathways, bunkers, cliffs and tight alcoves. A destroyed jumbo jet sits in the centre of the map, with its hollow fuselage offering areas of cover from the surrounding gunfire spilling out from the hillside, as snipers attempt to make the most of their vantage points. It's almost the perfect map for Modern Warfare, with equally relevant options available to whatever character class you wish to use, and the addictive, fast-paced gameplay shining throughout.
But, what's the most impressive thing about Modern Warfare 2? That it not only makes the most important and celebrated online game of the last half-century seem comparatively dull, but also utterly insignificant. Listening to player feedback is evidently the area that Infinity Ward pride themselves on most, subtly balancing the series' suitably celebrated gameplay and adding new game types to provide an experience that is instantly recognizable, yet utterly superior in almost every way imaginable.
Modern Warfare coverage available in P3Zine Issue 34 - click here to download it for free!
»View more Modern Warfare features...
